Monday, March 31, 2014

Just dropping in to say I will be participating in the A to Z Challenge, so starting tomorrow, I'll blog every day for the entire month of April (except Sundays). There will still be a few regular posts among the A to Z theme (guest posts, IWSG, book promotions, etc.) but for the most part it will be alphabet madness around here.

It's not too late to sign up, and you can do so here. This will be my third year participating. It's a fun challenge, and this time I'm going with a Writing Music theme. I'm sharing some of my favorite music to write to, one song spotlighted each day in a short, simple post.

I love all kinds of music, but these selections will be on the mellow side...the kind of stuff that inspires but doesn't require you to sing and dance along--more blend in the background stuff.

Maybe you'll find something you want to write to. Maybe you want to share some of your favorite writing music. Either way, it should be a fun month!

Back to regular blog programming in May. :)

And don't forget to visit Kathryn and Robin today. They are sharing their writing processes. Happy April!

Monday, March 24, 2014

I was tagged by the fabulous Cassie Mae for this bloghop, in which I answer a few questions about my writing process.

What am I working on?

*Revising REMAKE 2. This one's been read by two CPs, and I'm fixing it based on their feedback. To be sent to my next round of readers soon.

*Revising my 'herbs-n-nerds book' for my agent, hopefully done in the next couple of weeks.

*Waiting for feedback from my agent on my 'memory book', biting my nails waiting to hear what she thinks.

*Drafting my 'trading book'...so excited about the world-building in this one.

*Drafting my 'outbreak book'. Loving the voice so far--so different for me. And fun!

*Waiting for some final polishing notes on REMAKE from my editor...ARCs coming forth soon. Eep.

How does my work differ from others of its genre?

All of my books are YA set in the (near or distant) future on Earth, and I would consider them light sci-fi with strong romantic elements. Though 'elements' might be too weak a word. The romance in my books is never just there for the sake of romance or even characterization, it's always a vital part of the plot.

Why do I write what I do?

If I had a time machine and could travel to any one time period on Earth, it would be somewhere in the future. Yep, I'm one of those people. The unknown intrigues me (probably why I wanted to become an astronaut and explore the cosmos). So I'm constantly asking myself the What If questions. What if everyone chose their own gender? What if the world monetary system collapsed? What if people had to migrate to avoid radiation poisoning? And then I let my imagination wander and think up characters and their stories in these altered worlds. Then bam...I write it all down.

I'm also a bit of a preparedness junkie. Because--you know--what if? I'm a certified home herbalist and collect herbs (for medicinal purposes), medical supplies, shelf-stable food, seeds, etc. We even have a cabin in the mountains completely off the grid. So several of my stories tend to be a little post-apocalyptic as well...having to live off the land or make do without today's amenities. Fun to think about.

How does my writing process work?

Once I get an idea, I let it simmer for months until a full story surfaces, and then I spend several weeks plotting it out. I usually draft like a madwoman, pumping out a barebones story within 2-3 weeks. I don't get a lot of sleep, the story constantly running through my brain. I have this insane drive to get it out of me. After that I fill in the holes and flesh it out a bit more, then revise until it's the shiniest I can get it.

At that point I send it to my first readers, revise based on their feedback, send it out to more readers, revise...keep going until it's the shiniest I can get it with CP help. Then it's off to my agent, who undoubtedly gives it back with a long list of to do items that I work on, send back, she gives more feedback, I revise...keep going until it's the shiniest we can get it. Then it's off on submission (which admittedly, I've only made it to this step once so far) and if sold, I do the same dance with an editor.

To be honest, it boggles my mind how much time I spend on one manuscript when you consider all that work, but it's worth it. And as you can tell by my 'working on' list above, I have different books in various stages of that dance. It's a wild, complicated routine, but I really do love it.

Tell me what you're working on and why you like to write what you do. I'm tagging Robin Hall and Kathryn Purdie, two beautiful, amazing writers. You can tune in to their blogs next Monday and read all about their writing processes.

Did anyone else watch Divergent this past weekend? How did you like it?

New! From Bloomsbury Spark, a sunny heartwarming story of discovery and sisterhood.

A road trip. A singing competition. And super-hot cowboys.

What could be better?

For Charlie, a post-high school road trip isn't just a vacation, it's life changing. While her parents think she's helping a friend move, a chance at fame is the real reason to grab her best friends and drive to L.A. But when her super annoying, uber-responsible, younger sister, Lucy, has to tag along, it isn't quite the summer of fun she imagined.

Add in a detour to her grandparents' ranch in Texas, and between mucking the stalls, down-home cookin’, and drool worthy ranch hands, this could just turn into the best, and most complicated, summer of their lives.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Kelley Lynn was born and raised a Midwestern girl. She’s not afraid to sweat and fills her free time with softball, soccer and volleyball. (Though you probably don’t want her on your volleyball team.) She occasionally makes guest appearances as a female vocalist for area bands. Music plays a large role in her writing process as well as the characters and plot lines within her stories.

And don't forget to enter the giveaway for a Swag Pack, ROAD TO SOMEWHERE ebook, and $25 Amazon Gift Card. Except do forget, because I REALLY want that Swag Pack for myself, haha. Seriously, check it out.

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

When Bree meets Logan, and hears his oh-so-sexy British accent, it's lust at first sight.

Bree thinks Logan feels the same way, especially when they're snuggled up on her couch with his tongue down her throat. But when Logan decides that getting into a relationship when he only has a few months left in the States is a bad idea, Bree agrees to be "just friends."

But every time he flashes his swoon-worthy smile, complete with dimples, Bree has a hard time keeping her thoughts in the "friend zone."

About the author:

Georgia St. Mane is married with four kids. She's passionate about writing, reading, and theater. She thinks everyone deserves their own love story. Georgia also writes YA as Rachel Schieffelbein.

Friday, March 7, 2014

I'm so excited to be part of the cover reveal for Jessie's soon-to-be-released, KILLING RUBY ROSE.

About KILLING RUBY ROSE: In sunny southern California, Ruby Rose is known for her killer looks and her killer SAT scores. But ever since her dad, an LAPD SWAT sergeant, died six months ago, she’s also got a few killer secrets.

To cope with her father’s death, Ruby has been trying to stay focused on school (the top spot in her class is on the line) and spending time with friends (her Jimmy Choos and Mahnolo Blahniks are nothing if not loyal), but after months of therapy and more than a few months of pathetic parenting by her mom, District Attorney Jane Rose, Ruby decides to pick up where her dad left off and starts going after the bad guys herself.

But when Ruby ends up killing a murderer in defense of another, she discovers that she’s gone from being the huntress to the hunted. There’s a sick mastermind at play, and he has Ruby in his sights. Ruby must discover who’s using her to implement twisted justice before she ends up changing Valentino red for prison orange.

With a gun named Smith, a talent for martial arts, and a boyfriend with eyes to die for, Ruby is ready to face the worst. And if a girl’s forced to kill, won’t the guilt sit more easily in a pair of Prada peep-toe pumps?

About
Jessie Humphries:Jessie Humphries was born and raised in Las Vegas, NV. She
received a BA from San Diego State University, where she cultivated her love of
the beach, then lived in France, where she cultivated her weakness for shoes,
and finally earned a law degree from UNLV, where she cultivated her interest in
justice. After practicing law for several years she began writing, and,
appropriately, her debut novel Killing
Ruby Rose is a thriller about vigilante justice set in sunny southern
California with a shoe-obsessed protagonist. Jessie currently writes and
practices law in Las Vegas, where she lives with her husband and children.

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

This summer I'll be on a panel at the Writing and Illustrating for Young Readers (WIFYR) conference in Sandy, Utah. It's my first ever 'teaching' position at a writing conference and I'm super excited and nervous at the same time. This conference has a special place in my heart. It's the first writing conference I ever attended (back in 2011), and in addition to playing a vital role in my growth as a writer, it's where I met my critique partners aka cheerleaders extraordinaire aka best friends in the whole world. I can't recommend it highly enough to those who write for children...from picture books to YA. The morning workshops are invaluable and this year features another rock-star line up of best-selling authors, editors, and agents. Early bird pricing ends soon, and you can check out all the lovely details about the conference here.

Here's the thing. Sometimes I feel like this whole getting published thing is a fluke. Any day now my editor or agent is going to call me and say they made a HUGE mistake signing me. And my writing might be okay but it's no longer good enough. I'm no longer good enough. Sorry. Ba-bye. There's the door. And if I'm a total fluke, what business do I have teaching other hopeful writers. Ugh. I wish I could remember that I write for the joy of writing and not for the approval of others. How do you cope with these insecurities, because I have a feeling they'll never go away, will they?